Delhi HC blast accused shot dead in J&K

Dec 21, 2012, 04.30AM ISTTNN[ Sanjay Khajuria ]

Chhota Hafiz was the last surviving link to the two Pakistani bombers who planted the bombs at gate No.5 of Delhi HC killing 16 people in September 2011.

NEW DELHI: Hizbul Mujahideen militant Shakir Hussain Sheikh alias Chhota Hafiz, an accused in the September 7, 2011 Delhi high court blast, was gunned down by security forces in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

Chhota Hafiz was the last surviving link to the two Pakistani bombers who planted the bombs at gate No.5 of Delhi HC killing 16 people. Two others, Junaid Akram Malik and Amir Kamal alias Bada Hafiz, were killed between May and August this year.

The National Investigation Agency wanted to catch them alive as they were the ones who had arranged for the explosives and the Pakistani planters. Junaid's elder brother, Wasim Akram Malik, who was arrested by NIA, had no knowledge about the real identity of the planters.

Sources said the Army received information about movement of some militants in Marwah tehsil of Kishtwar on Thursday. The troops of 11 Rashtriya Rifles laid an ambush on Qadrini Bridge in Marwah and the militants came to the area around 7.30pm. The militants, upon seeing them, tried to escape and opened fire. The retaliatory fire killed one of the militants who was identified as Chhota Hafiz. There was a reward of Rs 50 lakh on his head.